Box-labeling machine.



J. DOVE-SMITH.

BOX LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5. 1913.

1,158,650. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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J. DOVE-SMITH.

BOX LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1913.

1,1 58,650. V Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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JOSEPH DOVE-SMITH, F NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

BOX-LABELING- MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed November 5,1913. serial No. 799,299.

To all whom it may concern:

Be .it known that I, J osnrii DOVE-SMITH, a citizen ofthe Dominion of Canada, residing at Niagara 'Falls, in the county of; elland and Province-0f Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Box-Labeling Machines, of

which the following isa specification" My invention relates to improvements in box labeling machines, and more particularly to improvements in means for afiixing labels, or coverings to the tops or faces of paper or pasteboard boxes. It is, furthermore, a part of the invention generally shown and described in my application Serial No. 724,833, filed October 9, 1912, for

boxmaking machines, but :not therein separately cla med.

Itis well knownin the art of box making, especially in the manufacture ofsmall boxes,

' that, first, the high speed of operation re:

quired renders it difficult to press down and securely affix labels to boxes; and, second,

that where the box surface is curved either convexed or concaved-thepperatwn is more difficult; and, th rd, that where the label 1s embossed or otherwise subject to abrasion by impact of a presser, the operation. is'Still more difficult. I

. The object of my invention is, therefore, to overcome these difliculties in the manner which will be understood from the following specification and reference to the annexed drawings in-Which,

F'gure 1 is a plan view of a machine cmbodying my invention. Fig. 2 is atransverse, vertical, central. section of the machine, details and parts unnecessary to an understanding of ,my present invention being omitted. Fig. 3 is adetail central sectionof one of my label aifixing devices drawn one larger scale. Fig. 4 is an underside view of my pneumatic presser. 5 is a detail sectlon of a boxiholdlng devlce and plunger.

It will be seen that, these figures correspond generally with 1,3, 13, '14. and 7, respectively, of said application Serial No. 724,833, and that the reference characters correspond generally with that application, towhich reference may be had for a more detailed understanding of the machine.

. Iwill first describe a cycle of operations generally, and then describe more specifi- 5, holds the box upon its ends, or sides as the case "may be. The rotor has-the upwardly-extending cylindrical portions 45, each of which carries within ita plunger 29. To. each of these cylindrical portions is clamped a box holder, of the following construction. Each clamp 46 has upwardlyturned end-plates 47. 'lteciprocatin'gly se- .cured by pins 48 in slots in these end-plates are plates 49. These plates 49 have internal flanges 50, uponwhich rest out-turned flanges 51 on plates 52 which are rigidly secured to the plungers 29. Hinged to the plates 49 are plates 53. have cylindrically-formed beads 54 formed upon their upper edges which bear against the outsides (ends or sides as the case may be) of the boxes when in place. Light springs hold theplates 53 up against the boxes. The convexed headsof-the plungers 29 are of a size to move freely.inand out of the-boxes without contacting the inner walls. Projecting inwardly on the plates 49 and adjacent to the hinges are shoulders 61 which lieabove and in'the path ofthe flanges 51 on the plates 52. Threaded into the bottoms of the plates 49 are pins 62 having heads53, which heads slide 'within tubular sleeves G4: which are rigidly secured to the clamps 46. WVithin the sleeves 64' and bearing against the heads 63an'd the clamps 46 .a follower, enters. the interior of the box, andthe anges 51 contact wlththe shoulders I 61 on the plates 49, thus lifting the plates These plates 53 49, the clamping or holding parts and the box carried thereby up against the overhanging fixed member, between which and the plunger the box receives the desired treat ment.

Assuming a box to have been put in place upon one of the box holders and assuming that the box is to be domed or convexed, the V Geneva wheel moves the rotor one step and brings the box to position for the domer to act. Following this action the box is moved one step to the position for application of glue or paste to its surface. This done,

the Gene a wheel moves, it to position where a label is made to adhere to the glue-covered surface. The rotor next moves the box to the pressing or aflixing mechanism which is hereafter more fully described. In order to secure perfect contact and smoothness, I

prefer to subject the label to the action of a second affixing mechanism identical with V the one presently described. The rotor now moves the box into position to be ejected. This is accomplished by a pneumatic device which blows the box out of the box holder,

7 as fully'described in myaforesaid applicaresilient pad 38 which is of a size to substan-' tiallycover the label. This-pad 38 has a to the convex surface of the box.

rectangular slot 89, clearly shown in Fig. 4, and within the boundaries of this slot the surface of the pad is a trifle above the surface external thereto (it being understood that I am now describing a construction particularly adapted to domed boxes). This forms a sort of air chamber within the portion of the pad boundedby the slot 89, and also causes the pad to conform more closely Leading into this rectangular slot are air openings or apertures 90. These air openings connect with a central air-valve 91, the head of which is in an air supply chamber 92. A supply of air under pressure is carried to this chamber, as by a coupling 93, shown in Fig. 3. The bottom of the stem of this valve, when the valve is in the closed position, lies below the pressing surface of'the pad 38, so that, when a plunger 29 raises a box and adhering label into contact therewith, it will press the stem of said valve upwardly, open the valve, andpermit air under pressure to pass through the openings 90 into the rectangular slot 89, to spread out over the central portion of the label, and be forced outover the edges of the label to smooth it and press it down. The downward movement of the plunger 29 will permit the springs to carry the box with the afiixed label down and out of contact with the stem of the valve, which valve will then close automatically and shut off the air.

As a matter offact, the actual, physical contact of the pad 38 with label is very slight, and the cushioning effect of the air is such that a most delicately embossed label is uniformly pressed down'and in no wise abraded or marred by contact with the pad. And as the action of the machine must be exceedingly rapid, the application of affixing pressure is much more rapid and much more uniform than can be attained by the i use of a pressure :pad. As-stated, I preferably repeat this action by'the use ,ofa sec- 0nd, identical presser. Both of these pressers may be supplied withair from a pipe 9& provided with a T 95,;whichsourc'e of air supply also actuates the ejector at the next step of the rotor. The form of the pad 7 above described, with proper changem length of .thevalve stem, maybe adapted with equal efliciency to affixing labels to.

boxes having plane; or" concaved surfaces.

Having thus described my invention, I cla1m: I

1. In combination with a rotor, plungers and means for actuating thesame and-a" box-holding device carried by said rotor, a pressing mechan1sm, compr1s1ng a pressing pad, openings therein connecting with a supply of compressed air through a valve, a 1

source of compressed air supply, a valve, a stem on said valve extending below the plane of the surface-of said pressing pad,

whereby said valve is opened by the contact of a box bearing a label by the upward movement of the plunger and air pressure is applied to the label to smooth and compress the label at the time pressure is applied.

2. In combination with a rotor and :box-

carrying devices thereon, a label aflixing de vice comprising a pad rigidly mounted over the path of travel of said box-carrying devices and means forforcing a box and superposed label into contact with said pad.

' 3. In combination witha rotor, box-carrying devices thereon mounted to reciprocate vertically, means for effecting such reciprocation, a label afiixing device compris-r ing a pad rigidly mounted ,over the path of,

travel of said box-carrying devicesand means for forcing a box and superposed label into contact with' sa'id pad. r 4. In combination with a rotor ahdbox- (carrying devices thereon, 'a'label afiixing device comprising a'pad having an area for the admission of compressed air, a source of supply of compressed air, a valve for ad mitting compressed to said area an means for actuating said valve. y f

5. In combination withfa rotor, box-carrying devices thereon mounted toreciprocate vertically, means foreffectingfsuch reciprocation, a label affixing device compris- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ing a pad having an area for the admission my hand in the presence of two Witnesses. of compressed air, a source of supply of JOSEPH DOVE-SMITH. compressed air, a valve for admitting com- Witnesses:

pressed air to said area and means for actu- MARGARET MAHONEY,

atingsaid valve. ALLEN STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

